A influência da psico-oncologia na atuação com mulheres com câncer de mama

Abstract

Patients undergoing breast cancer treatment commonly face situations of pain and suffering that represent a great risk in the psychological and social dimensions. This occurs due to the deconstruction of self-image (hair loss, removal of the breast), decrease in sexual activities, arising from adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment models. From this, symptoms such as sadness, frustration, anxiety, anguish and fear may be present throughout the therapeutic planning. Psycho-Oncology has a different perspective on neoplasia, it makes it possible to understand illness as a result of biopsychosocial factors, proposing to be understanding the psychological responses to illness, treatments, rehabilitation and survival. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of Psycho-oncology in women diagnosed with breast cancer during chemotherapy treatment in a private clinic in the city of Aracaju - SE. This, in turn, provides its patients and family members with no additional charge, psychological care in infusional and/or oral therapy, accepting demands related to the illness and treatment. The investigated data were the results of the instruments in the first, fifth and sixteenth chemotherapy session. These were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of life Questionnaire (QLQ-BR23), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and sociodemographic data. According to the clinic's protocols, these questionnaires are used in their routine, since they are released in Brazil and widely used in the world. In total, 80 patients with breast cancer participated, 16.2% with stage I, 43.8% with stage II and 40% with stage III. According to the instruments used, it was observed that for Emotional Function, the groups that adhered to psychotherapy sufficiently (80%) progressed better throughout the stages compared to the group that did not adhere (20%). For Image Preservation, the group that adhered to psychotherapy sufficiently (64.4%) declined more slowly throughout the stages when compared to the group that adhered partially (9.8%) and those that did not adhere (26.8%). It was possible to notice regarding the questions self-image, sexual function and sexual pleasure, the patients showed a significant reduction. It can only be stated that, of the patients who adhered, the self-image was reduced more slowly compared to the women who did not adhere. The main psychic symptoms were fear, anguish, sadness, easy crying, anxiety and insecurity. These results point to a need to review institutional practices and protocols directed at the psychology service.